Sustainability

Symetal values Corporate Responsibility as one of the major prerequisites to Sustainable Development. The principles of sustainability guide and shape our activities and initiatives, as well as business decisions.

Within this framework the Company implements a long-term development plan based on specific objectives and strategic priorities that include:

Focusing on our people, inspiring them to continuously grow and develop themselves professionally and providing a safe working environment.

Protecting and respecting the natural environment.

Maintaining and continuously improving the outstanding quality of the products and services we offer to our customers.

Our people

Our employees are highly qualified professionals who play a determining role in achieving the company’s strategic and Sustainable Development objectives.

Our goal is to provide and maintain a safe working environment which promotes responsible working practices.

Symetal is also committed to human values and aims at establishing a rewarding working environment which respects human rights and offers equal opportunities to all employees. We invest in our people and offer continuous training, career advancement and personal development opportunities to everyone.

Responsible employment practices: Compliance with the principles of the SA 8000 standard

Social Accountability 8000 is an international standard which lays down specifications about how to improve working conditions and safeguard human rights. Symetal has voluntarily implemented a system that meets the SA 8000 requirements but has not been yet certified according to this system. In most cases it has more than covered the minimum requirements outlined in the standard. The company’s approach to each of the 8 categories addressed by the standard is presented below.

Child labour

Symetal is opposed to child labour.

We implement those legal provisions that ban child labour. All Company's employees are over the age of 18.

There were no incidences of child labour in fiscal year as also in previous years.

We do not collaborate with suppliers who support child labour and for this reason we perform relevant audits on our suppliers.

Forced labour

Symetal is opposed to and condemns forced and mandatory labour. All work carried out at the Company must be provided voluntarily. Symetal does not tolerate any form of coercion or forced labour. Labour relations are based exclusively on consensual cooperation and mutual benefit for both sides (employees and Company). As a matter of principle, the Company does not collaborate with suppliers shown to implement forced and/or mandatory labour practices.

Health and safety

Ensuring health and safety of our employees and associates is a top priority for Symetal and something it is deeply committed to. Our long-standing goal remains ‘Zero Accidents’. We have put in place a certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System that complies with the requirements of the international OHSAS 18001 standard, to allow us provide a safe working environment that protects and promotes the health and safety of our employees and associates. Symetal monitors, checks and assesses the relevant risks and takes all precautionary measures needed to avoid accidents and occupational diseases. All employees and the staff of contractors working at our facilities receive appropriate, systematic training to ensure they have adequate knowledge of health and safety issues.

Discrimination, equal opportunities and diversity

We respect human rights and have a deep-felt sense of responsibility towards our employees and so:

We condemn and do not allow forms of behavior that could lead to discrimination, intimidation, gesturing or verbal/physical threats.

Collective bargaining

We fully respect our employee's collective bargaining rights as a company that respects internationally agreed human and labour rights. All employees have employment contracts and work full-time.

Disciplinary practices

Labour relations at Symetal are based on dignity, mutual respect, cooperation and integrity. Under no circumstances can psychological or physical coercion be used nor can employees be verbally abused. The following are considered to be acceptable disciplinary practices: oral rebukes, written warnings and written reprimands.

Working time

Symetal respects the national labour rights law and so:

We fully comply with the applicable national legislation on working time, public holidays and overtime.

We give our employees the annual leave that they are entitled to, as specified by law.

Remuneration and allowances

Symetal seeks to ensure employee satisfaction and so:

We ensure that we provide fair payment (employee salaries always cover the legal requirements). Given the new legal situation in Greece concerning labour rights, all Symetal’s employees are paid above the minimum limits set by the National Collective Labour Agreement.

We pay remuneration to employees in cases of overtime in line with the relevant provisions of law or even beyond legal requirements.

Having gone beyond the benefits required by law, we also offer a series of additional benefits to all employees.

These practices are made clear to Symetal’s suppliers and subcontractors, who must be aware of the need to and must undertake to constantly improve working conditions at their facilities.

Occupational health and safety

Symetal recognizes the importance of health and safety in all its activities and makes every possible effort to achieve and maintain the highest standards of accident prevention. Our top priority is the health and safety assurance of our employees and associates.

Our commitment in the field of occupational health and safety is to establish a working environment free of risks, injuries, accidents and occupational diseases. This is accomplished by:

Monitoring our efficiency on health and safety issues through key performance indicators and applying corrective and preventive methods so as to ensure continuous improvement in this sector.

Identifying and evaluating potential risks on health and safety and taking preventive measures to eliminate them.

Ensuring the continuous update and training of our human resources and associates on occupational health and safety issues.

Implementing a number of investments annually.

Occupational Health and Safety Management System

Symetal manages health and safety issues through the application of its Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

Symetal’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System (covers all company production facilities) is based on prevention and seeks to ensure continuous improvement on occupational health and safety conditions. The system focuses on our people to ensure their safety at work and requires that all employees (and associates) participate and contribute.

Environmental responsibility

Responsible environmental management is one of Symetal’s core values. The Company is committed to environmental protection which is incorporated in its strategy and achieved by comprehensively managing the environmental impacts of its operations.

Evidence of Symetal’s commitment to Sustainable Development includes the implementation of a certified Environmental Management System which is in compliance with the international standard ISO 14001 and the EMAS regulation.

Specifically, both sites are accredited with the ISO 14001 certification, while the foil converting plant (Mandra site) is also an EMAS registered organisation.

Aluminium is an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution for many packaging and technical uses. When it comes to foil and flexible packaging, aluminium outperforms any other solution due to its resource efficiency. From foil wrappers and household foil to semi-rigid foil containers and laminated foil pouches, aluminium foil applications offer a versatile range of packaging solutions to meet today’s sustainability challenges. Learn more about the More is less concept by watching this video.

Supply chain responsibility

Symetal’s suppliers are valuable associates and therefore a critical feature for the company’s growth and development.

Striving to promote Sustainable Development across our entire supply chain, we implement specific procedures in order to select and manage our suppliers, taking into consideration environmental and social responsibility criteria.

Compliance with Symetal’s safety rules is not just mandatory for its own people but also for employees of suppliers and contractors who are carrying out work at the company’s premises.

Care for society

The company’s policy and strategy includes offering and displaying responsible attitude towards society.

Within the framework of Corporate Social Responsibility, the company supports local communities by promoting programs and actions concerning society, the environment, disadvantaged social groups, culture and health. Additionally, Symetal aims at contributing to the economic development of the local community by offering job and business opportunities (hiring local people and selection of local suppliers is a priority).

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Symetal is a manufacturer of aluminium foil and converted products focusing on Technology, Innovation and Sustainability.